Harry Akst

Harry Akst (August 15, 1894–March 31, 1963) was an American songwriter who started out his career as a pianist in vaudeville accompanying singers such as Nora Bayes, Frank Fay and Al Jolson. [Laurie, Joe, Jr. "Vaudeville: From the Honky-tonks to the Palace." New York: Henry Holt, 1953. p. 326, 327.]

In 1916, he enlisted in the army and met Irving Berlin (in 1921 they would write "Home Again Blues"). His most notable success came with the song he wrote in 1925 with Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young: "Dinah". It would go on to multiple hit recordings by the likes of Bing Crosby, The Mills Brothers, Louis Armstrong, and Fats Waller.

In 1927 he worked on the Broadway production of "Artists and Models", eventually moving to Hollywood to continue songwriting for Broadway musicals.

Harry Akst was inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983.

elected songs

*"Home Again Blues" (1921), with Irving Berlin
*"Dinah" (1925), with Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young
*"Baby Face" (1926), with Benny Davis
*"Dearest (You're The Nearest To My Heart)", with Benny Davis
*"Am I Blue?" (1929), with Grant Clarke
*"Guilty" (1931) G. Khan / R. A. Whiting - H. Akst. [Track 7 on the soundtrack of the film "Amélie".]

Original Works for Broadway

*"Artists and Models" of 1927 (1927) - revue, co-composed with Maurie Rubens, lyrics by J. Keirn Brennan, Benny Davis, Ted Lewis, and Jack Osterman
*"Calling All Stars" (1934) - revue, lyrics by Lew Brown

Notes

External links

*Shof|id=35|name=Harry Akst
*imdb name|0005942|name=Harry Akst